52. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, under the present administration of the Old Age Pensions Act, where an old couple have both been receiving pensions, when the wife dies the widower not only loses his wife's pension but his own 1912 is reduced because their joint income is charged to his account: and will he seek to amend the present Act so as to remove such hardships?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; in reply to the second part of the question, the Government, as has been frequently stated, are not prepared at present to re-open the settlement of the calculation of means for old age pension purposes which was embodied in the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWould my hon. and gallant Friend consider the desirability of appointing committees to again go into the question of means, in order to remove some of the real hardships and anomalies of the present system?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI will pass that suggestion on to my right hon. Friend, but I cannot hold out any hope as the matter has been settled so recently as 1919.